Farewell to Sarah and Mark

Sarah Holbrook

sarah-photo-circle.png

I’ve been asked to write this little blog about what I’ve been up to over the last few years and what is happening next as I say goodbye to being on staff team.

I’ve been a member at St John’s since I started university in 2016. During this time I’ve spent 3 years being involved at church as a volunteer doing youth, worship and children’s ministry. After I graduated I spent a year being the youth and worship intern and had a wonderful time working alongside Marcus and Mark in their ministries. I learnt so much through my time as an intern and I really value that. After my internship I was hired to continue working at St John’s and be the Worship Coordinator. I’ve spent most of my year coordinating our wonderful worship team and editing audio and visuals to create the worship videos as part of our online services. Now as we’re heading back into normality, I’ve been helping move the team back into the building and ensuring services back in the building run smoothly.

It’s been really great to work within the St John’s staff team. My role is only a year long and was a temporary solution until St John’s could hire a worship pastor. Therefore, I will be stepping down as Worship Coordinator in mid-August. So what’s next, you might ask? Well, I’m currently in the interview stage to do a PGCE. If all goes well, I’ll be starting training to be a secondary music teacher in September in the Birmingham area. I’m fully intending to stay at St John’s as a member of the church so you will still see me around!

Some prayer points for me are:

  • Please pray for my next step - that, God willing, I will be offered a place in Birmingham for my PGCE. I’ve got interviews in the next few days.

  • Please pray for my transition from being on the staff team to being a congregation member, that I can work out where to continue serving and of what to let go.

  • Pray that I can trust in God’s plan and I can continue to grow in my faith in this new chapter in my life.

Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Sarah

Mark Watson

st-johns-harborne-pcc-mark-watson-circle-web.jpg

I joined St John's in 2013 having moved to Birmingham to work for Youth for Christ. My expectations where only to stay in Birmingham for a couple of years, however, after falling in love with the city and the church I applied for the position of Youth Pastor in 2014. I am now in my seventh year and it has been a joy and privilege to be part of this incredible community.

It is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I move on from St John's and Birmingham. I have been appointed as Director of Ministry for Cambridge Youth for Christ and will be starting there at the beginning of September. My last day at St John's will be Sunday 15th August. I am so grateful for the encouragement, prayers and opportunities many have given me over my years here which have shaped me into the person I am as I enter this next stage of ministry.

Please be praying for:

  • The process of saying goodbye and finishing well over the next few months.

  • For a good handover and for the youth ministry of St John's to continue to flourish and grow.

  • For my move to Cambridge and all the practicalities that entails

Every Blessing

Mark

Guest UserComment